Wire connecter means



Jan. 16, 1934. w. c. BURNHAM WIRE CONNECTER MEANS Filed July 5, 1932 INVENTOR W/dZ/AM C J'UQ/V/JA V ATTORNEY kill a man, that Patented Jan. 16 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 1,943,514 WIRE CONNECTER MEANS William C. Burnham, Fair Oaks, Calif. 7 Application July 5, 1932. Serial No. 620,890 7 8 Claims. (01. 140-119) This invention relates to a device for use in connecting two wires with a tubular sleeve twisted about the overlapped ends of the two wires.

In constructing and maintaining electric lines, the ends of wires to be connected are drawn together with blocks and tackle so that the ends of the wires overlap. A tubular sleeve of copper, or an alloy, is slipped over the ends of wires so that the ends are contiguouswithin the sleeve. The sleeve is then twisted by means of special pliers having jaws to fit the sleeve. The sleeve is usually turned through at least three complete revolutions;v

a turn and a half being made at each end of. the sleeve while holding the sleeve stationary atits mid portion so that each wire is twisted equally and all the twist does not come in one wire.

When it is remembered that the two wires to be joined are live, carrying a voltage 'suflicient to the wires are under the tension of the blocks and tackle, that the wires and blocks and tackle are all mixed together, and that the lineman is working on the end of a stringer or on a pole twenty to. a hundred feet in the air, the difiiculty of twisting the heavy sleeve will be better appreciated. The pliers, while special, have to be carefully manipulated, engaged and disengaged from among the wires and tackle holding them. 7 Since they are made of metal they are an added hazard to the linesman and many fatalities arise through their use on hot wires, the linesman completing a circuit with his body and consequently being severely burned if not killed outright. I

The present invention obviates the use of pliers and enables the wires to be joined by twisting the sleeve, the means employed being such that the task of twisting the sleeve is simplified and made physically easier. Thus, the linesman has to engage the means of this invention but once with the sleeve and does not have to disengage because of the blocks and tackle.

It is in general the broad object of the invention to provide a new and novel apparatus for twisting the tubular wire connecters and to improve upon present apparatus to simplify and increase the ease and safety of the linesmans task. By means of this invention, the sleeve joining the wires is twisted more uniformly and is not damaged as when pliers are used. Thus, I make possible the uniform twisting of a sleeve in simple fashion and in an easy manner though the linesman is working high in the air on live wires.

The invention possesses other features and objects, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear in the following wherein I have disclosed the preferred apparatus of my invention;

In the drawing: 1

Figures 1 and 2 are plan views showing how the device is manipulated. v

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the sleeve engag 5 ing mechanism.

In the present "preferred form shown in the drawing, I provide a handle '6 to which is secured member 7. Another member 8 is hinged on m'emv} bar 7 as at 9 and includes forked end 11 to receive bolt 12. Bolt 12 is hinged on pin 13in recess 14 in member '7 and, with wing nut 1'6, retains mem+v ber 8 in place-the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

Members 7 and 3 form a circular receptacle within which is positioned and retained mechanism 17 for engaging a tubular sleeve, or other element, to be held or twisted. Mechanism 1'? includes a circular member 18 having flanges 19 so thatrnember 18 is rotatable in the confines of members 7 and 8. Member 18 is recessed as at 21, the recess usually extending to the periphery of member 18 to permit ready insertion of the out wardly, flared end of the sleeve.

The recess is closed and completed by a complementary segment 22 which, to prevent its loss, is hinged by pins 23 and links 24 on member 18. It is to be noted that slot 21 divides member 18 into major and minor portions and that the member 18 is only removable when the minor portion is positioned within the confines of member?- in that position shown in Figure 2-with segment 22 swung out from the member 18.

Since the preferred use of the device of my invention includes oscillation of handle 6 through a limited distance, means are provided for converting the oscillatory movement of handle 6 into rotational movement of member 18 in a selected direction. This means includes rachet pin 26, spring 27, latch 28 and notch 29, all carried by member '7. The ratchet pin is biased by the spring to engage one of the notches 31 in the member 18 and rotate the member while, upon movement of member '7 in the opposite direction, the ratchet pin rides over member 18 until the member 7 is rotated in the opposite direction, whereupon the ratchet pin engages and rotates member 18. Notch 29 and latch 28 permit the direction of rotation of member 18 to be reversed or ratchet pin 26 to be lifted and held out of engagement 105 with member 18.

With member 8 and segment 22 in the dotted line position in Figure 2, a sleeve can be readily inserted, thereafter segment 22 is moved into member 8 and secured. Usually two devices are 411 employed, one being placed at either end of the sleeve to be made up. When the sleeve is twisted, release of the wing nut releases the member 8 and segment to permit removal of the twisted sleeve. The use of two of the devices enables the sleeve to be twisted an equal amount at each end so that the wires are equally twisted.

Because different sized sleeves are employed to join different wires, members 18 having dif ferent recesses are provided for use. Normally members 7 and 8 retain a member 18 against any but intentional displacement. This is secured by having member 7 encircle member 18 for more than half its circumference. Member 18 can be removed only by moving it into the full line position shown in Figure 2 wherein recess 21 enables the member 18 to slip out from the confines of member 7 and another inserted.

The materials of which the device is constructed are those suitable for the use to which the device is to be placed. Thus, handle 6 is preferably made of insulating material surrounding a metal rod 33 screwed into, member 7. A ferrule 32 protects the handle which I have made of Philippine mahogany impregnated with an insulating and moisture excluding material. The composite handle has successfully withstood voltages up to 30,000 volts. Members 7 and 8 are drop forgings while member 18 and segments 22 are of hardened steel.

It is to be understood that the device disclosed is the preferred form and that other forms may be adopted without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, handle means, a head on said handle means, a connecter sleeve engaging member having a slot extending inwardly from the periphery thereof to receive and pass a connecter sleeve, said head including a stationary member and a hinged member cooperating to form a receptacle in which said sleeve engaging member rotates, one of said head members surrounding more than half of said sleeve engaging member so that said sleeve is retained therein in substantially all positions but one.

2. In a device of the character described, handle means. a head on said handle means, a connecter sleeve engaging member having a slot ex tending inwardly from the periphery thereof to receive and pass a connecter sleeve, a slot closing segment member cooperatively positioned to close said slot, said head including a stationary memher and a hinged member cooperating to form a receptacle in which said sleeve engaging member rotates, one of said head mem ers surrounding more than half of said sleeve engaging member so that said sleeve is retained therein in substantially all positions but one.

,ing an inserted sleeve connecter.

5. In a device of the character described; a connecter sleeve engaging member having a slot, extending from the periphery of said member to the central portion thereof, and dividing said member into a major and a minor portion; and means partially surrounding said member to support said member and retain said member except when said minor portion is positioned in the confines of said surrounding means with said slot adjacent an outside edge of said surrounding means.

6. In a device of the character described, handle means, a head on said handle means, a connecter sleeve engaging member having a slot extending inwardly from the periphery thereof to receive and pass a connecter sleeve, a slot closing segment member cooperatively positioned to close said slot, said head including a stationary member and a hinged member cooperating to form a receptacle in which said sleeve'engaging member rotates, one of said head members surrounding more than half of said sleeve engaging member so that said sleeve is retained'therein in substantially all positions but one, and ratchet means carried by said head and cooperating with said sleeve engaging member. and said segment memher to connect said head therewith for driving.

7. In a device of the character described, a sleeve engaging member having a slot extending to the periphery thereof from the central portion thereof, said slot being flared outwardly to a greater width adjacent the periphery of said member, and a segment member insertable into a portion of said slot to define with said member a sleeve engaging chamber.

8. In a device of the character described, a handle, a head on said handle, a sleeve engaging member carried by said head and rotatable therein, said head including a slot extending to the periphery thereof, a segment member insertable into a portion of said slot to define therewith a sleeve engaging aperture, and ratchet means carried by the head and cooperating with said sleeve engaging member and said segment member to rotate said members.

WILLIAM C. BURNHAM. 

